Concrete-form tie and spacer



Des; 1925- D. SMITH CONCRETE FORM TIE AND SPACER W L .1925 2 Sheets Sheet 1 Dec. '8 1925; "1.564.982

D. B. SMITH I CONCRETE FORM TIYEV ANS gPACER Fi1e d A m 4. 1

'2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented 8, 1925.

" UNITED STA CONCRETE-FORM 121E AND SIAOER.

Application filed April 4, 1825. Serial No. 20,757.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID BAKER SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Concrete-Form Ties and Spacers (Case B72, of which the following is a detailed speci cation.

This invention has to do with tie and spacing devices for concrete forms and the like, and it may be stated as a general object of the invention to provide a form or forms of tie, or tie and spacer, that are simple in structure, economical to manufacture and that present the least possible obstruction when in'place in the concrete form.

Although the invention in the specific designs shown and escribed hereinafter has been applied parti ularly to the holding of forms for poured concrete, and although it will be understood that the invention is not limited to such use, yet the invention itself will be best understood from a detailed explanation of various forms of devices applied to such particular use. Furthermore in the erection and use of concrete forms, although suchforms are not always made of wood, nor are they always made of planksor boards laid in edge to edge abutment, yet the invention may be most readily understood by considering its use as applied to that kind of form. Form elements may, of course, be made in various sizes and shapes and of any suitable 'material; but for the sake of simplicity I may state at the outset that wherein I refer to form boards I do not thereby mean to limit my invention in its applicability to forms that are constructed of wood.

T E S P A T EN DAVID SMITH, 0! LOB ANGELES, OA LII'O B NIA.

I HEISSUED Such devices as set out in'those patents have given eminent satisfaction in actual use, but are open to some objections-their cost of manufacture and also the fact that when in place in an assembled concrete form (particularly where the .form has to stand considerable concrete ressure and therefore the ties have to be c osely spaced) the ties pouring or puddlingof the concrete. Also there has been the objection that unless the concrete were poured continuously into an assembled form the concrete from a previous pouring would stand on top those ties that Tot-Fleewere above the pouring level and, standing I Sometimes over night, that concrete would become set or partially set before the concrcte level had been poured around them,

The present invention overcomes all these difficulties and provides a tie, 'ortie and spacer device, that is very economical to manufacture, light in weight and at the same time capable of taking all stresses that may be imposed upon it.

In speaking of the present invention I rod,'and I therefore refer to it as a tension member or tension rod; but at the same time it is in practice made heavy enough and stiff enough to take the compression necessary to hold the form boards apart if there is any tendency for the opposite walls or form boards to move towards each other.

Conse uently the device is or is capable of being 0th a tie and spacer, although in the majority of cases it may function only'or substantially only 'as a'tie. v

Characteristically, the specific forms of the devices explained in detail in the fol- IOWiIlg specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, embody a single tension rod extendin across the form and a board enga ing he formation that may or may ;not e in a loop formation, but characteristically involve only a single member or cent edges 0 abutting form boards.

This ap 'lication is companion to m ap-- plication led on even date herewith, rial No. 20,756 and in said companion application, as compared with this one, the char acteristic featureis the use of a boardengaging head structure that involves a loop or looped formation, or that has two or more part that passes between ad aspaced parts passing between adjacent edges of abutting form boards. The latter 1men tioned characteristic forms, in comparison with the present application, a distinct line of cleavage between the two applications; and as to the looped formation the broader claims as between the two applications are contained in said companion application.

. For the purpose of making the present invention fully clear'to those skilled in this art, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings various t pical and specific formsof devices thatem ody and are illustrative of the invention; and from consideration of the following detailed descriptions of these various devices the invention itself, as pointed out by the subsequent claims, will be most readily understood; it being understood that I do not go into these specific devices in detail for the purpose of limiting the invention, but merely for the purpose of making the invention clear:

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a simple form of device embodying the invention;

. Fig. 2 illustrates. a slightly modified board engaging head formation; v

Fig. 3 illustrates a somewhat further modified form;

'Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevation with parts in section showing the form shown in Fig. 3;

ig. -5 is a side elevation illustrating for instance the application of the formof Fig. 1 to a form board; v

Fig. 6 shows a. further modified head formation;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show further -modifications of the head formation;

Fig. 10 shows another typical head for-. mation, as for a device to be used as a tie only; and v Fig. 11 is a view showing a head formation similar to that shown in Fig. 6 but showing how the tension rod may be extended on beyond the head for certain purposes.

Referring first to the form shown in Fig. 1', there is shown at 20 a tension rodhaving at each end a board engaginghead formation that may be described as being substantially H shaped, with two upright mem bers '21 and 22 that cross rod 20 substantially at right angles and joined by-a flattened endpart or extension of rod 20 as shown at 23. The distance between uprights 21 and 22 may be substantially that-necessary' to take between them the 'edgesof form'boards; but practice is preferably somewhat greater an the thickness of a form board so that when'the device is applied to a form board 24 the-edge of the board; will lie in a relative .position as m F1 a Fig. 5 illustrates one end of the tie device that being the point of inception that the ends of the flats do not extend quite applied over the upper edge of a form board. At the upper and lower ends of outer uprights 21 there are board piercing projections 25 the lower-one of which (the one that is lowermost will; of course, depend upon the position of the device) may be forced or hammered into the form board as illustrated in Fig. 5. This prong keeps the deyice supported horizontally as shown in Fig. 5 when it is applied over the upper edge of a form board at one side of a concrete form being erected. Such concreteforms are preferably erected one side at a time, and it is desirable, as the devices are placed over the edges of a board at. one side, to have means that will support the devices and prevent them from falling at their unsupported ends," so that the next successive higher board on the side first being elected may be applied with its lower edge abutting or substantially abutting the upper edge of the board last applied, without the necessity of workmen holding the tie device in proper horizontal position while that next upper board is applied. When the next upper board is applied the flattened part 23 of the device, as will be readily understood, then lies between adjacent longitudinal edges of the two abutting boards, and the free outer or unsupported ends of the device may easily be sprung up or down to allow proper placement of the boards forming the other side of the form. When all the'boards are in place it will be seen that the tension rods 20 extend across the inte- I00 rior of the assembled form, that inner uprights 22 prevent the boards falling inwardly and that outer uprights 21 prevent the boards spreading apart. As shown in Fig. 5 inner uprights 22 are spaced 1nwardly a little distance from the inner sur face of the form boards, so that when the concrete is finally poured and the forms removed, then these inner uprights 22 are covered by the finished concrete. In order to remove the form boards it is only necessary to break or shear oil the head structure at the point designated 26 in Fig. 5,

of flat 23 and being the point where a pulling action, probably combined with a twisting or vbend ingaction, is most likely to break off the head structure.

Flats 23 are so formed as to provide parts 7 that bite or sink into the edges of the form boards. It will be noticed that the rod is so flattened at 23 that itscentral part is widest and thinnest, while its end parts are narrowest and thickest; furthermore it will be noted to points flush with the inner face of the uprights 21 and 22, but that the parts 27 adjacent the uprights are of. full thickness (that is, of substantially the same thickness as the tension rod 20). These parts 27 and 139 23; and that dimension is governed by the permissible opening between adjacent edges of form boards which will not allow the poured concrete to run out. rule if a tension rod 20 of circular formation is used, its diameter must be somewhat larger than the permissible width of opening between adjacent boards; and for that reason it is desirable to flatten the end' parts or portions of'the rod that pass between adjacent boards. And it is also desirable in order to assist in keeping the device in proper position on the boards or between the boards-to assist in preventing the device being displaced from proper position by rotation or twisting about rod 20 as an axis. The boardengaging prongs 25 also act in the same capacity in addition to their functions of supporting the device as they are being applied to the form boards and preventing the device from being displaced longitudinally along the edges of the form boards.

In Fig. 2 there is illustrated a'form similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but wherein the tension rod 20 is fiat throughout in cross section,.the outer upright head member 21 joining the end of this rod 20 in much the same fashion as explained in connection with Fig. 1, and the inner upright member 22 passing through the flat rod 20 In Figs. 3 and 4 the inner and outer upright board engaging members 21 and 22", are shown as more or less circular or oval in outline, mounted upon a tension rod 20 that may be flattened as at 23 in space between the members 21 and 22".

In the forms of device so far explained the inner and outer members of theboard engaging head formation are either separate members or may be regarded as separate members joined to the longitudinal tension rod as by welding or the like. In Figs. 6 to 9 I have shown forms of device in which the inner and outer members of the board engaging head formation are'formed of the 30 and passing up andinto the upper part.

31 of a loopf'ormation'that may be descrlbed generally as being 8-shaped, and then pass As a general ing down into the lower art 32 of that 8-shaped loop formation an thence upwardly and, with a bend 33 around the bend 30,-

into thi flattened part 23 that extends across between adjacent edges of abutting form boards, and thence the rod or wire passes through the bend 30 into the upper part 31" of another 8-shaped formation, and thence down into and through the lower part 32 of that formation and thence upwardly to end at 34', where it maybe weldedto the other parts. Here the inner and outer upright board engaging members of the head respectively, of a lower board, between which two boards the flat part 23 lies.

This flattened part 23 is similar in formation, structure and function to the flattened part 23 before described. Here, as in the form previously described, theboard piercing projections or prongs 25 perform the same functions as before stated.

Instead of loops in an 8-shaped forma- The upper parts 31 and 31 i tion, I may use loops of generally circular.

i or elliptic or spiral formation, as is indicated in Fig. 9. Here the wire or rod that v forms tension rod 20 takes a bend at 40 out- -wardly and into a plane that lies at right angles to rod 20 and thence upwardly and around to form the upper part 41, and then downwardly and around to form the lower part 4.2, going back to another bend at 43 around the bend 40 and thence across and through the flattened formation 23 and thence through -a bend at 40 upper part 41 and lower part 42 to form an outer board engaging member, the final end of the wire or rod at 4-1 being welded or otherwise secured to the other p? rts at about the point The formationshown in Fig. 6 may be perhaps best understood by saying that it is merely the result of closing down the open loops of Fig. 9 into closed loops as illustrated in Fig. 6, the bends in the .wire or rod being the same as in the form ofiFig. 9 and.

being denoted by the same numerals. In the form of Fig. 6, however, it will be noted that the final structure, so far as appearance and general exterior form are concerned, is

very similar to that shown in Fig. 1, except-I ing that both outer and inner uprights 2 1" or 22 are formed of twothicknesses or lengths ofthe same wire or rod of which the whole device isform'ed. The formation of Fig.v 6 achieves substantially the same final functional characteristics as the form shown in Fig. 1, and also the sameg'eneral external formation as in Fig. 1, with the structural difference that the form of Fig. 6 is made from a single piece of wire or rod.

Fig. 7 shows the form that is substantially the form that is shown in Fig. 6, except that here the two parallel wire or rod pieces of the two uprights 21 and 22 are twisted together.

Fig. 10 shows a looped head formation illustrating how the device maybe made m .a typical form when it is intended to be used as a tie only. And also in this figure is shown how the tension rod 20 may be doubled-'that is, may constitute .two lengths of the rod or wire of which the device is made. The structure will be apparent from Fig. 10, the looped head being made generally in the shape of an 8 with upper part 51* and lower part 32 adapted to engage the outer side surface of the upper and lower boards, respectively, the two parts being provided with prongs 25.

In any of the forms hereinbefore described the tension'rod may be extended on outside the head formation for the purpose of securing the rod to a tud or other structural member of the fm. The forms usually have vertical sti ds that bear inwardly against theboards of the outer wallof the form; In such a case, where the extending end of the tie rod is'fastened to sucha stud, the boards may be pushed in so that they bear" against uprights 22, 22 or 22 or the head formation. As an instance of such modification of the structure, I show in Fig. 11 the same form that is shown in Fig. 6, except that the wire or rod of which the device is formed takes a bend at 43 through the loop formation of the outer upright member 21 and extendson out, and preferably flattened as indicated at 50, and may have nail holes as at 51 so that the extensionv may be wrapped or hooked around a stud or other structural member or. may be nailed to it.

I claim: v f 1. A. device of the character described, comprising a tension rod adapted to extend across a concrete form and having at its end a flat part adapted to pass between adjacent edges of abutting form boards, a board engaging head formation extending on opposite sides of the plane of said flat, and means at the ends of said head formation adapted to pierce and engage a form board to prevent displacement of the device, as described.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a tension rod adapted to extend across a concrete form and having at its end a flat part adapted to pass between adjacent edges of abutting form boards, a board engaging head formation embodying two spaced members in planes at right angles to the rod and extending on opposite sides of the plane of said flat, and means at the ends of said head formation adapted: to plerce engaging head and engage a form board to prevent displacement of the device, as described.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a tension'rod adapted to extend across a concrete form and having at its end a flat part adapted to pass between ad'acent edges of abuttin form boards, a card ormation embodying two members in planes at right angles to the rod, said members being located on the rod at the opposite ends of its flat portion, and extending each on opposite sides of the plane of said flat to engage the inner and outer surfaces of abutting form boards, and the outer one of said members having at its end board'piercing projections to prevent displacement of the device, as described.

' 4. A device of the character described, comprising a tension rod adapted to extend across a concrete form and having at its end a flat part adapted to pass between adjacent edges of abutting form boards, a board engaging head formation extending on opposite sides of the lane of said-fiat, and means at the ends of said head formation adapted to pierce and engage a form board to prevent displacement of the device, as described, said head, formation being formed inda single length of metal with the tension ro 5. A device of the character described, comprising a tension rod adapted to extend across a concrete form and having at its enda. fiat part adapted to pass between adjacent edges of abutting form boards, a board en aging head formation embodying two mem ers in planes at right angles to the rod, said members being located on the rod at the opposite ends of its fiat portion, and extending each on opposite sides of the plane of said flat to engage the inner and outer surfaces of abutting form boards, and the outer one of said members having at its end board piercing rojections to prevent displacement of the evlce, as described, I

said two spaced head members being formed with the tension rod metiil.

6. A device of the character described,

comprising a tension rod adapted to extend gaging head formation extending on opposite sides ofthe plane of said flat. and means atthe ends of said head formation adapted to pierce and engage a form board to precomprising a tensionrod adapted to extend.

across aconcrete form and having at its end a flat part adapted to pass between adjacent from a single length of members in planes at right angles to the rod, said members being located on the rod at the opposite ends of its fiat portion, and

extending each on opposite sides of the plane 1 of said flat to engage the inner and outer surfaces of abutting form boards, and the outer one of said members having at its end board piercing projections to prevent dis- 1 placement of the device as described, said two spaced head members being formed as loops together with the tension rod from asingle length of metal.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I 15 have hereunto subscribed my name.

DAVID BAKER SMITH. 

